Phil Carruthers – remember the Constitution!
September 4th, 2008
I’d forgotten that former Speaker of the House, Phil Carruthers, is now in charge of prosecution at the Office of the Ramsey County Attorney. Most of the arrests are in Ramsey County, and in their jurisdiction, so much of how it goes from this point on is in his hands. I’ve seen some quotes from him about releasing some detainees without charges (heard a report that only about 1/3 of those who’ve been jailed are being charged, that says a lot about the grounds for arrest):
And he’s also on the Clean Water Action board. Clean Water Action just issued this Press Release, the first of this sort I’ve seen. Instantly, I got on the horn to Ken Bradley to thank him for sending this around, THIS IS WHAT EVERY ORGANIZATION NEEDS TO BE DOING RIGHT NOW — THANK YOU CLEAN WATER:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, September 04, 2008More Information:
Ken Bradley 612-623-3666 or 651-238-5376
David Holtz 313-300-4454 (cell)Clean Water Action Statement On Police Actions At Republican National Convention
Minnesota Organization Calls on Leaders To Protect Core Democratic Principles
Clean Water Action is deeply concerned by the systematic suppression of free speech and the right to assembly which emerged in response to this week’s Republican National Convention held in St. Paul. Clean Water Action is Minnesota’s largest grassroots environmental organization representing 90,000 members statewide.
We have watched civil liberties rapidly erode after the tragedy of September 11. That erosion continues to spread to the heart of the Twin Cities. Minnesota prides itself in being well informed, educated and optimistic. But intimidating arrests of reporters on felony riot charges, the profiling of citizens and forced entry into homes is pushing Minnesotans towards pessimism and cynicism. These actions dishonor the founding principles of our Constitution and the residents or our state and nation.
Wednesday, David Brauer of MinnPost reported on the arrest of Matt Rourke, an Associated Press photo journalist. Rourke, forced to the ground and flexi-cuffed says he has never experienced anything like Monday’s assault. “I’ve been detained before, but never forcibly. Katrina was as bad as it got up until Monday. They’d just kind of temporarily detain you, post-9/11 stuff, asking you why you were photographing an oil refinery, taking your license and letting you go back to work quickly.”
http://www.minnpost.com/stories/2008/09/03/3320/ap_photographers_last_pre-arrest_shot_is_a_stunner
Kathlyn Stone of the TC Daily Planet reported Tuesday that before the start of the Poor People’s March, that she witnessed the profiling of a youth on a bike who had been pulled to the curb by a group of police officers on bikes. The biker was forced to the ground, placed in white plastic handcuffs, while police riffled through his backpack even though he said, “I do not consent.” He was quickly released after 20-30 photographers and videographers were alerted to the arrest taking place.
http://tcdailyplanet.net/article/2008/09/02/voices-when-profiling-backfires.html#comment-35911Award-winning journalist and host of “Democracy Now” Amy Goodman and her two colleagues Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar were arrested by St. Paul Police on Monday while reportedly covering a protest outside the Republican National Convention. Though clearly identified as a member of the press, Goodman was charged with “obstruction of a legal process and interference with a ‘peace officer.'” Two of her producers were arrested for alleged “suspicion of felony riot.”
St. Paul resident Mike Whalen’s house was raided on Saturday in an apparent and serious attempt to suppress free speech. A film crew from Eyewitness was staying in the duplex he owned and reported witnessing the raid where 30 police with rifles flooded Mr. Whalen’s yard, entered the house, handcuffed him and his roommates for an hour and went through the whole duplex with a questionable warrant.
Free speech, journalistic access and the right to assemble are basic constitutional rights at the heart of our democracy. A vibrant free press is essential for maintaining the transparency necessary to curb tyranny and preserve democracy.
Arresting and detaining journalists for doing their jobs is a gross violation of free speech and freedom of the press. Physically harassing citizens engaged in peaceful assembly is uncalled for anywhere, but more unconscionable in country that considers itself to the leader of the free world.
We urge and expect our state leaders to conduct a thorough investigation and to take appropriate action in response to violations of constitutionally protected individual civil rights including the dismissal of unlawful or inappropriate charges.. Our leaders need to re-examine the laws and policies that have lead to this disturbing infringement of our most basic, constitutionally protected rights. We must ensure this does not happen again in the future. We cannot be a hopeful people, when our constitution and basic rights have been violated and our leaders stand silent!
Clean Water Action (www. cleanwateraction.org) has been empowering people for more than 36 years to take action to protect America’s waters, the health of our families and to make democracy work.
##
Doug Pierce
Board Chair
Clean Water Action AllianceKen Bradley
Minnesota State Director
Clean Water Action
www.cleanwater.org308 E. Hennepin Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55414
612-627-1524
Sarah Palin? Whatever is he thinking?
September 3rd, 2008
John McCain picking Sarah Palin as VP candidate? Whatever is he thinking…
A picture’s worth a thousand words…
(photoshopped, schmotoschopped, what the hell…)
Whatever was he thinking… Uh-huh… right…
But hey, if you want words, CLICK HERE AND SCROLL DOWN TO THE VIDEO.
Amy Goodman, Democracy Now, arrested
September 1st, 2008
Amazing coverage by folks on the ground. Here’s a link to the audio from Indybay of the arrest (there’s some dead air in the middle, be patient) and a producer describing the arrest:
And now we’ve got the video:
Keep up on what’s going on down there from afar by going here: Twin Cities Indymedia.
Here’s the press release on Goodman’s arrest:
September 1, 2008
Contact:
Denis Moynihan 917-549-5000
Mike Burke 646-552-5107ST. PAUL, MN—Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman was unlawfully arrested in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota at approximately 5 p.m. local time. Police violently manhandled Goodman, yanking her arm, as they arrested her. Video of her arrest can be seen [above].
Goodman was arrested while attempting to free two Democracy Now! producers who were being unlawfully detained. They are Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar. Kouddous and Salazar were arrested while they carried out their journalistic duties in covering street demonstrations at the Republican National Convention. Goodman’s crime appears to have been defending her colleagues and the freedom of the press.
Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher told Democracy Now! that Kouddous and Salazar were being arrested on suspicion of rioting. They are currently being held at the Ramsey County jail in St. Paul.
Democracy Now! is calling on all journalists and concerned citizens to call the office of Mayor Chris Coleman and the Ramsey County Jail and demand the immediate release of Goodman, Kouddous and Salazar. These calls can be directed to: Chris Rider from Mayor Coleman’s office at 651-266-8535 and the Ramsey County Jail at 651-266-9350 (press extension 0).
Democracy Now! stands by Goodman, Kouddous and Salazar and condemns this action by Twin Cities law enforcement as a clear violation of the freedom of the press and the First Amendment rights of these journalists.
During the demonstration in which they were arrested law enforcement officers used pepper spray, rubber bullets, concussion grenades and excessive force. Several dozen others were also arrested during this action.
Amy Goodman is one of the most well-known and well-respected journalists in the United States. She has received journalism’s top honors for her reporting and has a distinguished reputation of bravery and courage. The arrest of Goodman, Kouddous and Salazar is a transparent attempt to intimidate journalists from the nation’s leading independent news outlet.
Democracy Now! is a nationally syndicated public TV and radio program that airs on over 700 radio and TV stations across the US and the globe.
RNC: Dave Bicking interview about daughter Monica’s arrest
September 1st, 2008
As the Republican National Convention fades into the distance, likely canceled due to “weather,” the “grand march” is winding up, police are tailing the students leaving Macalester, helicopters overhead, and there’s a police blockade at Smith and Grand with a couple of arrests so far…
From Uptake (video reports here) and MinnPost, here’s an interview with Dave Bicking about his daughter’s arrest. Dave Bicking, Green Party, ran for City Council last election cycle and he was a crucial player in taking down Kandiyohi’s Midtown Burner, planned for the Phillips neighborhood.
And on MinnPost:
The good news is that there was a post in Twin Cities Indymedia that Monica Bicking had been released, but now that post has vanished…
And on a lighter note, from the STrib:
If they don’t break the law…
September 1st, 2008
Choice link with a video that sums it all up, from the Daily Planet, Vlad Teichberg, Glass Bead Collective, on the targeting of journalists and advice for the cops:
More from the Minnesota Independent:
National Lawyers Guild seeks to have judge review detentions of six activists by end of day
National Lawyers Guild: What police raids seized yesterday was not “weaponized” urine
… what a concept…
From the Daily Planet:
From the STrib about the Veterans for Peace march:
… and the good news – the convention seems to be cancelled…
So now everyone can go home and the RNC slides out of town without accountability…